Update on FPL's Turkey Point project
In May, Gov. Rick Scott and his Cabinet voted unanimously to approve FPL’s planned project which is to construct and operate two nuclear reactor units at Turkey Point as well as construct miles of oversized transmission lines which could impact our area visually and healthy-wise. The City of Miami is in the process of appealing this decision to the Third District Court of Appeal. Further, FPL cannot begin construction on any part of the transmission lines which are planned to run through the City of Miami until the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approves the two new nuclear generating units. The NRC has most recently indicated that it will not grant this approval until late 2016.
According to Victoria Méndez, City Attorney, "Apart from the appeal, the City of Miami will also present this issue to the NRC and to Florida’s Public Service Commission – the state agency charged with overseeing publicly regulated utilities."
She sent a letter out which says that if the reactors have a forty year life expectancy, only two of seven scenarios show the project to be cost-effective based on FPL’s own study. Although the life of a nuclear reactor may be extended for up to sixty years (and perhaps more if federal law is changed, see http://tinyurl.com/extendreactorlife, the initial federal license is valid for forty years. Moreover, the City of Miami is currently engaged with the NRC to comment on the environmental and safety portions of FPL’s license.
STEPS YOU CAN TAKE
Citizens have requested information on how to participate. Steps that can be taken include:
- In February 2015, the NRC plans to release its draft Environmental Impact Statement. This document is very important to the federal licensing process and I urge you to communicate your concerns to the NRC once it becomes available and the public comment period begins. The NRC will take these comments into account before it publishes the final Environmental Impact Statement.
- Similarly, Florida’s Public Service Commission will reopen its Nuclear Cost Recovery docket in January 2015. This proceeding governs the amount of money FPL may recover before it constructs the two (2) nuclear reactor units and transmission lines. You may send your comments to this agency by emailing clerk@psc.state.fl.us or sending regular mail to: Florida Public Service Commission, 2540 Shumard Oak Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0850.
- The initial briefs for the City’s appeal of the Governor and Cabinet’s decision are currently due on December 24, 2014. You may file an amicus brief with the Third District Court of Appeal. An amicus brief must be filed no later than five days after the initial briefs.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Miss Méndez at vmendez@miamigov.com or 305-416-1800.
According to Victoria Méndez, City Attorney, "Apart from the appeal, the City of Miami will also present this issue to the NRC and to Florida’s Public Service Commission – the state agency charged with overseeing publicly regulated utilities."
She sent a letter out which says that if the reactors have a forty year life expectancy, only two of seven scenarios show the project to be cost-effective based on FPL’s own study. Although the life of a nuclear reactor may be extended for up to sixty years (and perhaps more if federal law is changed, see http://tinyurl.com/extendreactorlife, the initial federal license is valid for forty years. Moreover, the City of Miami is currently engaged with the NRC to comment on the environmental and safety portions of FPL’s license.
STEPS YOU CAN TAKE
Citizens have requested information on how to participate. Steps that can be taken include:
- In February 2015, the NRC plans to release its draft Environmental Impact Statement. This document is very important to the federal licensing process and I urge you to communicate your concerns to the NRC once it becomes available and the public comment period begins. The NRC will take these comments into account before it publishes the final Environmental Impact Statement.
- Similarly, Florida’s Public Service Commission will reopen its Nuclear Cost Recovery docket in January 2015. This proceeding governs the amount of money FPL may recover before it constructs the two (2) nuclear reactor units and transmission lines. You may send your comments to this agency by emailing clerk@psc.state.fl.us or sending regular mail to: Florida Public Service Commission, 2540 Shumard Oak Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0850.
- The initial briefs for the City’s appeal of the Governor and Cabinet’s decision are currently due on December 24, 2014. You may file an amicus brief with the Third District Court of Appeal. An amicus brief must be filed no later than five days after the initial briefs.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Miss Méndez at vmendez@miamigov.com or 305-416-1800.
posted by Tom Falco at 10:00 AM
YOU MAY NOT LIFT THE PHOTOS & TEXT. IT'S COPYRIGHTED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. YOU CAN HOWEVER SHARE A STORY ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY USING THE LINKS HERE.
For linking to this one story, just click on the time it was posted & just this story will open for sharing - only through social media. Not copying and pasting.
1 Comments:
This is the Sunshine State not the Nuclear Reactor State unless the sunshine is another word for radiation.
Post a Comment
<< Home